Preventing Rider Error

Nick Lenatsch, an American motorcycle racer, warns others about the importance of paying attention to your tires and how your bike is riding to prevent errors and crashes.

Nick’s Experience of Rider Error

When leading a race at Daytona, Nick’s steering damper mount broke and caused him trouble with hard braking. He was in the lead and did not want to quit. The steering damper mount got hung up on the exhaust pipe and caused his steering to lock. Nick came to “fairing-down halt” in the Chicane. Looking back, he should have slowed down the moment he felt like something was wrong. Now, Nick encourages riders to learn from his mistakes.

A Lesson from Nick

When working with a student, Nick’s bike began moving in a new way he had never experienced before. Nick almost ignored the warning sign, but because of his past experiences, he pulled off of the track to a safe spot. His tire had been punctured by a discarded rivet and was going flat. Ignoring the warning sign would have put Nick in danger of crashing.

Flat Tires

According to Nick, many crashes are the result of tires going flat from small punctures. If your tire is low, you will feel a longitudinal weave and sluggish steering. It is crucial that you pull over and check your tires, not doing so is a significant error in judgment. Low pressure can result in the tire folding over or completely coming off the rim = major error.

Is Rider Error Always to Blame?

Occasional equipment failure happens. It is important to have your bike looked over by qualified technicians and to keep up with preventative maintenance. Nick discourages riders from riding anyone else’s bike.

You are better off safe, than sorry. If something does not feel right, pull over and check it out.